Sinn Fein County Councillor Gerry Murray has called for the
introduction of a special tax designation scheme for Rural
Ireland that would specifically target the very serious social
and recreational deficit that currently exists in so many of our
rural communities.

``Many parents in rural Ireland would like their teenagers to have
the opportunity to access the wide range of social and
recreational facilities that are currently available to their
urban counterparts.''

``At the moment young people have to travel to the main urban
areas to avail of such facilities as Cinemas and Bowling alleys,
often entailing round trips in excess of eighty miles, the lack
of such infrastructure is a major factor in the drift of
population from rural to urban Ireland. If the Government is not
prepared to address this deficit with exchequer funding, then
they should seriously consider introducing targeted schemes that
would encourage the provision of such facilities by allowing tax
relief of up to 100%. of capital costs for all such projects.
Such schemes should be an integral part of the National Spatial
Strategy.''

``The main political parties seem to be totally out of touch with
the needs of Rural Ireland's young population, and have failed
dismally to appreciate the crucial role that such infrastructure
has to play in improving their quality of life.''

The Charlestown based Councillor concluded by saying. ``Quality of
life issues, as much as economic factors now determine where
people put down their roots and choose to live. But sadly
successive Governments have failed to grasp this fundamental
fact, and have been blissfully oblivious to the vital role that
proper social, cultural and recreation infrastructure can play in
achieving balanced regional development.''